Terros Health’s Post

Despite progress, 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents are in girls. 4,000 adolescent girls and young women acquire HIV every week. Protection of their rights is essential for enabling adolescent girls to access HIV prevention and treatment services in safety and confidence. Let's dismantle gender inequalities and uphold the rights of all. To protect women’s health, we need to protect women’s rights. #zerodiscrimination #IWD2024

Gender inequalities significantly contribute to the disproportionate burden of new HIV cases among adolescent girls. In many regions, societal norms and power imbalances limit girls' ability to negotiate safer sexual practices, including condom use and refusing unwanted sex. Lack of access to education and economic opportunities further exacerbate their vulnerability to HIV transmission. Addressing gender inequalities is crucial for implementing comprehensive HIV prevention strategies that empower girls with knowledge, resources, and agency to protect their sexual health. #GenderInequality #hivprevention

"Knowing one's HIV status is crucial, but fostering a community free from discrimination is equally vital. Yet, amidst our conversations, we often overlook a crucial group: elderly individuals living with HIV. Perhaps it's an assumption that the elderly are not sexually active, or perhaps it's the discomfort of discussing such pressing matters with our elders due to tradition or shame. However, we must remember that we have cross-generational sexual activity, and it's imperative to include elderly persons in these discussions. Let's ensure that our conversations and actions are inclusive, addressing the needs of all individuals affected by HIV, regardless of age or background." #hivawareness #hivprevention

Today is #HIVVaccineAwarenessDay! While there's no cure yet, a vaccine offers hope for a future free from HIV. But effective research requires inclusion of diverse populations. Why is inclusion crucial? The virus affects people of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. Understanding how HIV impacts different groups is vital for developing a vaccine that works for everyone. What can you do? Support organizations funding research that reflects this diversity. Advocate for increased funding for inclusive clinical trials. Spread awareness about the importance of participating in research. Together, let's unlock the new territory of HIV research for a future where everyone has access to prevention! #EndHIV #EquityInScience #ClinicalTrials #healthcare #healthcareworkers

The other part of our paper on how discrimination at the structural level leads to inequalities has been published this week. In this paper we explore the associations of discriminatory laws and policies with HIV testing across 44 sub-Saharan African countries using ecological and multilevel analyses. With the ecological analysis we compare our findings to previously reported data, then, extending to a two-level multilevel analysis, we account for the hierarchical structure of the population and simultaneously adjust for differences in context and composition in each country. We find evidence that legalised same-sex relationships and targeted HIV policies were associated with increased odds of ever testing. #discriminationandhealth #inequalities #hivprevention

1 in 8 people living with HIV avoided clinics because they feared stigma or discrimination based on their HIV status. Discrimination creates barriers to access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, and holds back progress to #endAIDS. Protecting everyone's rights to dignity, equality, and access to essential services ensures that every individual can lead a healthy life free from discrimination and oppression. When we prioritize and uphold these rights, we create environments where people can access the healthcare they need, make informed choices about their well-being, and live without fear of violence or discrimination. #ZeroDiscrimination

These are two of my favorite SME’s and facilitators speaking on the health needs of Black women and girls and HIV prevention and treatment. This is a must attend webinar!

“Globally, 46% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls (all ages) in 2022 (UNAIDS, 2023).” A reminder: women and girls can also live with HIV. As we continue to advocate for HIV awareness and adolescent health promotion among young people, let’s remember the existing gender gaps that exacerbate the situation of women and girls. This International Women’s Day, let’s call for more women of diversity to be in leadership roles and decision-making spaces! Check out this factsheet by UNAIDS: https://lnkd.in/dtta6AXa #IWD2024 #KnowTheScienceStopTheStigma

Joined the #AIDS2024 Session - Empowering youth in HIV prevention and treatment. I listened to Grace Kamau of Operation Triple Zero, a young person, on what meaningful engagement means to her as a young person. She articulate these 👇 powerfully; 1. It's being at the planning table as a valued, empowered and a meaningful contributor 2. It's continously engagement, not one off 3. It's engagement that bears results We shouldn't leave young people behind, we need to equip them to engage, we need to move away from verticalization of programs

Young voices matter. They help us design programmes that work. They help create youth-friendly services, inform HIV prevention strategies, gender-based violence responses and new policies and procedures. #YoungVoicesMakeADifference #YouthDay #YouthMonth